Discovery class practiced the forgiveness ritual today.  The children talked about how it feels when we hurt someone else, or when someone hurts us.  We talked about how it feels to say you are sorry and try to help the person you hurt, or when another person apologizes to you.  The children wrote or drew something they would like to forgive someone for, or be forgiven for on small pieces of paper, then burned those in the flame of the chalice.  We used tongs to be extra careful with the fire.  Next Sunday we will participate in the forgiveness ritual with the whole congregation.

The Explorers class has been learning about the five activities we do at church:  Welcoming, Worship, Learning, Service, and Creating Caring Community.  Today as service to our church, the children did a clean up of our art supply closet.  They tested markers to find ones that no longer work, and put away items that were not where they belonged.

Ideas to expand the learning at home:

In preparation for next Sunday's forgiveness ceremony, talk with your child about things that you might want to forgive someone for, or ask forgiveness for.  Is there something someone did that hurt you that you are still upset about and find it difficult to forgive that person?  Have you done something that hurt someone else that you would like to be forgiven for?  When we place that in the flame, it burns away, and helps us to feel a little better. Maybe the flame helps us to be brave enough to say “I'm sorry” to someone we haven't been able to say that to. Or maybe the flame helps us be less angry about something we wish someone else would say they were sorry for, and haven't.

How is your family involved in the 5 areas of church?  What do you do to be welcoming to new people?  When do you engage in worship?  How and when do you learn?  In what ways do you give service, either to the church or to the wider community?  What do you do to help create a caring community? Talk with your child about what you enjoy about our church and the ways you are involved.  Are there other ways you would like to be involved?